Huntsville gazette., 1887-10-01

| they may not be disappointed III une granu
| parade.
| The local posts have been kept busy re-
| ceiving the visiting comrades, escortlng
| them to their camps and entertaining such
as visited the various post headquarters,
all Of which are handsomely fitted up
and supplied with edible and liquid re-
freshments, SO that the visitor need go
neither hungry nor thirsty.
To say that the city is crowded, but
feebly expresses the condition of affairs;
but still they come; train after train bear
ing its load Of blue coated veterans; and
| it goes without saying that by midnight
the city will be packed as it never was be-
fore.
Badges OF all kinds are to be seen on the
breasts of the old soldiers, indicating the
post, department and corps of the wearer,
some having special memorial medals,
while others bear the insignia of the
States to which they belong, as for in
stance the Californians sport the bear,
while the Southern Calfornians sport as
an emblem the form of an orange-their
favorte fruit.
There is plenty of music to keep things
lively, and bands are heard on every hand
playing the airs TO which the boys
marched nearly quarter of q century
ago, when they kept step to the music of
the Union in their march to its preserva-
ton.
AS matter Of course, there is an entire
absence of young men wearing the Grand
Army badge, ir fact the majority can
| uoast of ct least few gray hairs, while
there are many whose bent forms and un-
elastic gait tell that they are Oh the down
10 in lifnJr mo- nd that N
more reunions will find them able to
mingle with their old comrades.
But they seem to have lost none of the old
time spirit, for O visit to the headquarters
at any timo Of the day finds groups of
them ready at a moments notice to join in
the Cd war songs; and they sing them
with spirit and vim that recalls old days
and makes thcm for the nonce boys again.
There is a fair sprinkliug Of the Sons of
Veterans among the crowds who form the
connecting link between the past and the
present, and who are to keep alive in the
future the spirit Of loyalty that actuated
their sre5 todo and dare III the cause of
one common country and an undivided
| union.
The Woman's Relief Corps is also well
represented from nearly every portion of
the country; and their annual convention
promises to be not among tho least inter
esting events OF the week. They have
| proved themselves valuable adjunct to
the parent organization, and their work
is continually growing in Importance and
scope.
| While the National Encampment is not
| yet in session, the military formula was be-
| gun this morning with the firing of the
morning gun at National headquarters,
| and later by i National salute and the
| raising of the colors to tho staff at the
| same place-W ashington Park, the camp
| ground Of the Kansas contingent.
| General Fairchild, Commander-in Chief
! and staff, arrived this afternoon, and was
| at once escorted to headquarters, and
! from thence to the Lindell Hotel. He was
accompanied by Hon. Hannibal Hamlin'
| ex-Vice-President of the United States,
| who will remain in the city during the
| week and participate in the festivities.
! The state of weather has kept many OF
| the men within doors, and in consequence
| the hotel corridors have been crowded ;
| and while the interchange Of greetings
! and "reminiscences has occupied
| the attention of q large num-
| Der, by far the greater por
| ton have been canvassing the question as
| to who shall be the next commander-in-
chief General Slocum apparently has
| the call among the Eastern men, while
among those from the West and North
west General Grier, Of st. Louis, and
Major Warner, of Kansas City,
appear to have nearly an eqal fol-
lowing, with perhaps a slight preponder
ance III favor Of the former. OF course, it
| is impossible to prognosticate from mere
outside talk. and all will have to await
the action of the Encampment, unless
something should turn up to set the tide
unmistakably in some given direction.
General Pail Sheridan will not be here as
was anticipated. Gene. al Sheridan was
to have been the guest while here of the
Loyal Legion Of which he is the chief
officer. A room had been engaged for him
on the parlor floor of the Lnden Hotel
| Mt the head of the short hall that led to
the Loyal Legion quarters. This room
was to have been handsomely decorated,
and preparations had been made to give
General Sheridan a reception Wednesday
evening. Recently the local committee
received letter from the General saving
! that The Constitutional Centennial at
| Philadelphia woald absorb so much Of his
time aad attention that he would not be
able 90 attend the Encampment.
Every Thing Quiet.
DEEvER, Col, Sept. PA dispatch